More than $2,000 has been donated toward sponsoring two puppies through the America’s VetDogs organization.

The Koochiching County Board heard a report about the effort to raise funds for the program this week from Terry Randolph, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2948, and county Veterans Service Officer Kathy Sikkila.

The effort began after local veteran Hugh Kirkpatrick was awarded in August a service dog through America’s VetDogs — The Veteran’s K-9 Corps. “Toby,” Kirkpatrick’s dog, is trained to assist Kirkpatrick in a variety of situations and many who know Kirkpatrick say the dog has made a huge positive impact in Kirkpatrick’s life.

“He was a totally different person the first day he walked in with the dog,” said Sikkila. “This is the most exciting thing I’ve seen since I’ve been working.”

The VetDogs program provides dogs at no cost to eligible veterans and active military personnel. The program also provides dogs to be used at veterans hospitals and as military service dogs.

Kirkpatrick was so moved by his experiences with Toby that he began the groundwork to raise funds to help provide other vets with dogs through the program.

Should $6,500 be raised by Dec. 31, the community has the right to name and sponsor two puppies for the program.

Sikkila and Randolph told the board that the effort is about one-third of the way to its goal. And, officials with VetDogs have said that if the community is near its goal by the end of the year, they would extend the deadline.

Donations have ranged from $20 to $1,000, they said.

The pair have asked the International Falls City Council and Koochiching County Board to donate to the effort, The council may not contribute because of laws about public donations.

But commissioners said they see value in raising funds toward sponsoring two pups because veterans have played an important role in the community, as well as in the nation.

“I know we don’t have much money, but this is important,” said Commissioner Mike Hanson as the board discussed the idea of a contribution.

“The county is responsible for our vets,” said Commissioner Brian McBride. “I would support a donation to the VFW.”

The board is expected to contributed $200 toward the effort.

Sikkila suggested commissioners challenge members of the Falls City Council to make personal donations.

County Board Chairman Wade Pavleck, a Vietnam era veteran and known dog lover himself, urged the pair to seek funding from the Koochiching Community Development Association, which may be able to provide funding for the program.

Meanwhile, a tax-deductible donation to America’s VetDogs to be used toward the sponsoring of two puppies may be made by making checks payable to America’s VetDogs and sending them to Randolph at P.O. Box 135, Ranier, MN 56668, or Sikkila at 1320 13th St., International Falls, MN 56649. Randolph can be contacted at 286-3099 and Sikkila at 240-6017.

An account for the fundraising effort has been established at TruStar Federal Credit Union.

Meanwhile, the pair have received suggestions for names for the two puppies: Rainy, Backus, and Kooch. They ask people donating to indicate their choice of the three names or to submit their own suggestion for names.